The viscosities of magma and lava will be measured with amotorized shear vane viscosimeter, whereas the temperatures withthermocouples and infrared radiometers. The lava flow effusionrates will be determined using the lava flow velocities andchannel dimensions. The velocity profiles will be measuredacross the active lava flows following markers left on the freesurface and by analyzing frames from video records. The chemicaland textural composition of magma and lava will be measured usingscanning electron microscope and by energy dispersivespectrometer.

The crystal and vesical size distributions will also beestablished, and the whole rock chemical compositions will beestablished using the X-ray fluorescence and absorptionspectrometry. The lava flow physical and rheological propertieswill be measured at the vent and at least two different locationsdownstream. Measurements will also be made of the lava bulk-flowfield dimensions as well as of the topographic variations of theunderlying and surrounding terrain during the course of aneruption.

Measurements of local lava flow structures and their variationwith time (channel and margin dimensions, etc.) will also bemade. The overall growth of active flow fields will be monitoredby following changes in flow-field morphology with time andposition with airborne support.

The modelling of an enlargement of the initial crack at depth andflow of magma in the conduit will be studied by fluid mechanicsand energy transport equations which will be solved numericallyby finite difference and finite element methods. The lava flowheads and crusts will be studied by developing thermoviscoelasticflow models. These models will permit the development of "lavarules" which will be used in a global model of lava flow. Theglobal lava model will be quasi-threedimensional and shouldpermit simulations of lava flows over large distances.

The data will be used to verify the numericalmodels of magma and lava flows in conduits and along actualtopography of the volcano. After the magma and lava flow modelshave been verified separately with past and new eruption data,they will be integrated into a single numerical model whichshould be able to simulate magma ascent in conduit and lava flowduring an eruption at Etna. This work will be accomplishedthrough interdisciplinary studies involving geologists,geophysicists, volcanologists and physical numerical modellingexperts.